CarX Street is preparing for a major transformation with update 1.16.0. Developer CarX Technologies has launched a new Public Test Realm (PTR), giving players an early look at improved graphics, dynamic thunderstorms, expanded vehicle customization, and several gameplay improvements.
The update focuses heavily on making Sunset City feel more realistic. However, the developers have not forgotten about performance, vehicle customization, and quality-of-life improvements.
CarX Street Update 1.16.0 Introduces Dynamic Thunderstorms
One of the biggest additions to CarX Street is the improved weather system. Players can now experience thunderstorms featuring lightning, thunder, and powerful wind gusts.
The weather improvements go beyond adding a few visual effects. Trees, bushes, and grass now react to changing wind conditions and nearby vehicles. Rain also looks more convincing, with improved reflections, window droplets, and environmental effects.
Another major addition is volumetric lighting. This technology improves how light travels through fog and other atmospheric conditions. As a result, nighttime driving and stormy weather should look considerably more impressive.
CarX Technologies has also improved vehicle paint materials. Cars now respond more realistically to different lighting conditions, giving their surfaces a more natural appearance.
These improvements could make simply driving around Sunset City much more enjoyable, especially for players who appreciate the atmosphere of an open-world racing game.
Vehicle Customization Gets a Major Upgrade
CarX Street update 1.16.0 also introduces substantial improvements to the Livery Editor.
Players who enjoy creating custom designs can now work with up to 500 layers. This gives the community considerably more freedom to create detailed paint jobs and complicated vehicle designs.
The developers have also introduced undo and redo functionality, making it easier to correct mistakes.
HEX color support allows players to select specific colors, while adjustable decal opacity provides more control over individual design elements.
The new projection system is another welcome improvement. Players can rotate the camera without accidentally changing decal placement. Projection depth adjustments also help prevent decals from appearing on unwanted vehicle surfaces.
Favorite decals and previously used colors can now be saved, reducing the amount of repetitive work required when creating new designs.
For players who spend hours perfecting their vehicles, these improvements could become some of the most appreciated changes in the update.
More Freedom to Customize the Driving Experience
The developers are also giving players greater control over how CarX Street looks and feels during gameplay.
The HUD customization system now allows players to move, resize, or disable individual interface elements. This should benefit those who prefer a cleaner driving experience without unnecessary information covering the screen.
Camera settings have received additional options as well. Players can reduce camera shake, change how the camera reacts to speed, and enable horizon stabilization.
The minimap can also rotate according to camera movement, offering another navigation option.
Competitive players receive an updated Rivals leaderboard that displays opponent positions and time differences during races.
These additions might not sound as exciting as thunderstorms or improved graphics, but they could make everyday gameplay considerably more comfortable.
Photo Mode and Drag Racing Receive Improvements
Players who enjoy photographing their customized vehicles have something to look forward to.
Photo Mode now allows users to change the time of day without leaving the camera interface. Headlights and turn signals can also be controlled, providing more opportunities to create interesting screenshots.
Drag racing has received adjustments to its burnout mechanics.
Players now only need to complete a burnout once at the beginning of a race. The developers have also improved wheel behavior during burnouts and introduced an option to skip rounds.
These changes should make drag racing sessions more convenient while preserving the mechanics that make the mode enjoyable.
Performance Improvements and Bug Fixes
Visual improvements are welcome, but performance remains equally important. Fortunately, CarX Technologies has included several optimizations in update 1.16.0.
The update introduces TSR anti-aliasing and upscaling support, alongside improvements to the graphics engine.
The developers have also worked on the game’s network code and addressed several issues responsible for temporary freezes.
These include problems when opening the map, switching vehicles, and accessing certain interface windows.
Parked vehicles near player houses will no longer appear in the open world by default. This change aims to reduce temporary frame-rate drops, particularly on lower-end systems. Players who prefer seeing these vehicles can restore them through the settings.
Several visual bugs have also been addressed. These include rain appearing beneath bridges and inside tunnels, unusual black raindrops, and fog appearing where it should not.
Photo Mode and Spectator Mode have received fixes as well.
Finally, the LL2 engine has received a power reduction as part of the update’s vehicle balancing adjustments.
How to Access CarX Street Update 1.16.0
CarX Street update 1.16.0 is currently available through Steam’s Public Test Realm.
Players interested in testing the update can open their Steam Library, right-click CarX Street, and select Properties. From there, they can navigate to the Betas section and choose the public_test – PTR branch.
Steam will then download the necessary files.
Because this is a testing version, players should expect the possibility of bugs, performance issues, or other unexpected behavior.
The developers can use feedback from the testing period to identify problems before releasing the update to everyone.
A Welcome Improvement for CarX Street
CarX Street has always had an appealing concept: an open-world racing game that combines street racing, vehicle customization, and the freedom to explore a large city.
However, delivering that experience requires more than adding cars and races. Performance, atmosphere, and customization all play important roles.
Update 1.16.0 appears to address several of these areas simultaneously.
The improved weather and lighting systems should make Sunset City more enjoyable to explore. Meanwhile, the expanded Livery Editor gives creative players more opportunities to personalize their vehicles.
The performance improvements are equally important, especially for players who have experienced freezes or sudden frame-rate drops.
If the changes perform well outside the testing environment, update 1.16.0 could become one of the more meaningful improvements to CarX Street.
For now, players can experience the changes through the PTR while waiting for the full release.
